Condition monitoring pod

Abstract

Apparatuses are disclosed including an apparatus for machine fluid monitoring or sampling comprising a transparent sight glass attachable to a machine such that machine fluid is transferable to the sight glass. The sight glass is at least partially constructed of one or more materials that is transparent to light in a visible region. The sight glass has an open first end, a closed second end, an inside surface and an outside surface extending from the open first end to the closed second end and across the closed second end, the sight glass at least partially surrounds a cavity within the sight glass, the inside surface and the outside surface of the closed second end being parallel. The closed second end is constructed of the one or more materials that are transparent to light in the visible region to allow inspection of machine fluid through the closed second end.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for machine fluid monitoring, in combination with a housing containing a machine fluid, the housing having an opening sized, dimensioned, and located to overlap a predetermined preferred level of the machine fluid within the housing, the apparatus comprising:
 a sight glass at least partially constructed of one or more materials that is transparent to light in a visible region, the sight glass having an open first end, a closed second end, an inside surface and an outside surface extending from the open first end to the closed second end and across the closed second end, the sight glass at least partially surrounding a cavity within the sight glass, the inside surface and the outside surface of the closed second end being parallel, the closed second end constructed of the one or more materials that are transparent to light in the visible region to allow inspection of machine fluid through the closed second end, the sight glass having at least one ridge extending circumferentially about the sight glass at the open first end, the open first end receiving machine fluid from the housing, the sight glass having a port extending from the cavity through the inside surface and the outside surface of a portion of the sight glass that is transparent to light in the visible region, the port being separate from the open first end; and 
 at least one oil test sensor sized and configured to be positioned in the port. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus for machine fluid monitoring of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one oil test sensor is from a group consisting of a conductivity sensor, a moisture sensor, a particle counter sensor, and a dielectric sensor. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus for machine fluid monitoring, in combination with a housing containing a machine fluid, the housing having an opening sized, dimensioned, and located to overlap a predetermined preferred level of the machine fluid within the housing, the apparatus comprising:
 a sight glass at least partially constructed of one or more materials that is transparent to light in a visible region, the sight glass having an open first end, a closed second end, an inside surface and an outside surface extending from the open first end to the closed second end and across the closed second end, the sight glass at least partially surrounding a cavity within the sight glass, the inside surface and the outside surface of the closed second end being parallel, the closed second end constructed of the one or more materials that are transparent to light in the visible region to allow inspection of machine fluid through the closed second end, the sight glass having at least one ridge extending circumferentially about the sight glass at the open first end, the open first end receiving machine fluid from the housing, the sight glass having a port extending from the cavity through the inside surface and the outside surface of a portion of the sight glass that is transparent to light in the visible region, the port being separate from the open first end; and 
 a magnetic plug sized and configured to be positioned in the port of the sight glass. 
 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for machine fluid monitoring comprising:
 a sight glass at least partially constructed of one or more materials that is transparent to light in a visible region, the sight glass having an open first end, a closed second end, an inside surface and an outside surface extending from the open first end to the closed second end and across the closed second end, the sight glass at least partially surrounding a cavity within the sight glass, the inside surface of the closed second end having a first region that is planarly shaped, the outside surface of the closed second end having a second region that is planarly shaped, the closed second end constructed of the one or more materials that are transparent to light in the visible region to allow inspection of machine fluid through the closed second end, a port extending from the cavity through the inside surface and the outside surface of a portion of the sight glass that is transparent to light in the visible region, the port being separate from the open first end 
 a probe sized and configured to be positioned in the port, the probe selected from a group consisting of an oil test sensor and a magnetic plug. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus for machine fluid monitoring of  claim 4 , wherein the first region and the second region are aligned on the closed second end. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus for machine fluid monitoring of  claim 4 , further comprising: a grommet positioned in the port of the sight glass, the grommet having a sealable access pathway through the grommet to the cavity within the sight glass, the probe extending through the access pathway into the cavity within the sight glass. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus for machine fluid monitoring of  claim 4 , wherein the port is a first port, and wherein the sight glass further comprises a second port extending from the cavity through the inside surface and the outside surface. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus for machine fluid monitoring of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one oil test sensor is from a group consisting of a conductivity sensor, a moisture sensor, a particle counter sensor, and a dielectric sensor. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus for machine fluid monitoring of  claim 4 , further comprising a coupling body connected to the first end of the sight glass and removable from the sight glass without destruction of the coupling body or the sight glass, the coupling body configured to be attached to the machine. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus for machine fluid monitoring of  claim 9 , wherein the coupling body and the first end of the sight glass are connected so as to permit rotation of the sight glass relative to the coupling body while maintaining a fluid tight seal between the sight glass and the coupling body. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus for machine fluid monitoring of  claim 4 , wherein the sight glass has two parallel spaced apart ridges extending circumferentially about the sight glass at the open first end, the ridges defining a groove sized and configured to receive an o-ring. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus for machine fluid monitoring, comprising:
 a sight glass at least partially constructed of one or more materials that is transparent to light in a visible region, the sight glass having an open first end, a closed second end, an inside surface and an outside surface extending from the open first end to the closed second end and across the closed second end, the sight glass at least partially surrounding a cavity within the sight glass, the inside surface and the outside surface of the closed second end being parallel, the closed second end constructed of the one or more materials that are transparent to light in the visible region to allow inspection of machine fluid through the closed second end, the sight glass having at least one ridge extending circumferentially about the sight glass at the open first end, a port extending from the cavity through the inside surface and the outside surface of a portion of the sight glass that is transparent to light in the visible region, the port being separate from the open first end; and 
 at least one oil test sensor sized and configured to be positioned in the port. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus for machine fluid monitoring of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one oil test sensor is from a group consisting of a conductivity sensor, a moisture sensor, a particle counter sensor, and a dielectric sensor. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus for machine fluid monitoring, comprising:
 a sight glass at least partially constructed of one or more materials that is transparent to light in a visible region, the sight glass having an open first end, a closed second end, an inside surface and an outside surface extending from the open first end to the closed second end and across the closed second end, the sight glass at least partially surrounding a cavity within the sight glass, the inside surface and the outside surface of the closed second end being parallel, the closed second end constructed of the one or more materials that are transparent to light in the visible region to allow inspection of machine fluid through the closed second end, the sight glass having at least one ridge extending circumferentially about the sight glass at the open first end, a port extending from the cavity through the inside surface and the outside surface of a portion of the sight glass that is transparent to light in the visible region, the port being separate from the open first end; and 
 a magnetic plug sized and configured to be positioned in the port of the sight glass.